Almost Famous Music speak to Dave and Seddy from Davestock Promotions, the men behind the second annual Devilution Festival.

Taking place at The Boulevard in Wigan on September 15th, this year’s event features two stages chock full of awesome live bands from across the country. Check out our exclusive interview with Dave and Seddy, the men behind the event, below.

For more info, check out www.devilutionfestival.co.uk

It was two years ago that a young group named Junction23 first arrived on the Almost Famous radar, frontman Jack Savage coming to our rescue at the inaugural Millstone Rocks Festival to fill in for a band gone AWOL. 

Armed only with an acoustic guitar and a truck load of enthusiasm, Jack pretty much stole the show that day; charming the audience and captivating them with a number of well-polished, perfectly delivered numbers.

Needless to say, we’ve been fans of his band, Junction23, ever since. 

With talent and confidence which belies their tender years, and an unwavering commitment to their career which makes them one of the hardest-working young bands we’ve met in an age, the alternative/rock trio have not only released two new tracks, but a kick-arse new video to boot.

If you only check out one new band this week, make it Junction23. The new video for Had Enough is posted below for your convinience, though if you’re like us and certainly haven’t had enough of that track, you can find it, along with See You Again (Come Around) on the group’s Bandcamp page at: http://junction23.bandcamp.com/album/two-songs  

It’s the morning after the morning after the night before, and we’ve just about made a full recovery from Wigan’s Hottest Party of the Summer.

From The Fifth Root’s opening notes to This Devastated Fan’s scorching finale via the smash-mouth assault of hard rock that was Prairie Dogs and the ever-entertaining presence of Smitten Kitten (complete with epic rendition of Free Bird, much to our delight), all we know is that we had an awesome time.

What’s more, judging from the feedback we’ve been getting this past weekend, so did  many of those who turned up, stuck around and rocked out with us.

Looking back in the sober light of Sunday, we couldn’t be happier with our first event in our hometown:

A good turn out packed into The Press Rooms, the bands each delivered first-rate performances that we’ll remember for a long time to come, and the support we received from many members of the local music scene couldn’t have been better.

We owe a great deal of thanks to many people for making The Hottest Party of the Summer happen, not least of which being our Sound Man Supreme, Ste Anders, gear-lugger, drum-provider and all-round great help Stew Skoyles, photographer Marc Taylor the team from Simfest and Devilution Festival organisers Davestock and everybody else who helped us out in any way. We appreciate your support!

What happens next? Well, we have a few ideas in mind.

With the future of The Press Rooms uncertain, we’re currently looking for a regular place to call home for a series of monthly nights. Until then, AF boss man Chris Skoyles will be spinning tunes and providing compere duties at a charity event in Manchester later this month and we’re already in talks to start planning next year’s Millstone Rocks festival.

There’s lots more to come too, so do stick around, and for all the latest updates be sure to come say hi at www.facebook.com/almostfamousmusic.

*Image: This Devastated Fan rock The Hottest Party of the Summer. Pic by Alexander Bradley.

As if three riotous rock bands, a DJ and drink offers all night long for the measly sum of just £3 wasn’t enough, Almost Famous now gives you even greater value for money by adding a fourth band to Friday night’s show.

Just last night, we announced on our Facebook page that Wigan’s finest purveyors of scorching hot classic rock, Smitten Kitten, are joining the party.

Drawing inspiration from acts like Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Aerosmith and Guns ‘n’ Roses, the Kitten clan bring their own unique take on the staple classic rock sound to The Press Rooms on Rowbottom Square, Wigan.

Live gigs, combining a flare for the flamboyant with a cheeky humour and an arresting stage presence have impressed as many audiences and stolen as many shows as their radiant riffs and scintillating solos have captured imaginations and won over new followers by the truckload. 

Never afraid to go above and beyond for the sake of putting on an awesome show, Smitten Kitten have rapidly developed a reputation as must-see live act.

Find out why this Friday night, August 10th at The Press Rooms, Wigan, when the rockers join This Devastated Fan, Prairie Dogs and The Fifth Root at The Hottest Party of the Summer.

*Image: Smitten Kitten perform at Diamond Fest. Photo by Dave Green.

Temperatures are set to rise in Wigan this coming Friday as Almost Famous Music brings The Hottest Party of the Summer to town.

Taking place at The Press Rooms on Rowbottom Square from 7.30pm, the live music event marks Almost Famous’ return to the borough following a stint working in the United States.

The music promotion company was formed earlier this year by 28 year-old Chris Skoyles who, after working on events such as Haigh Fest and supporting many borough-based bands, left for the US to support artists and events from such diverse states as Minnesota, New York and Chicago.

Returning to his hometown, Chris hopes to inject a bit of the vibrant party atmosphere he experienced at shows across the States into Wigan’s rejuvenated music scene, starting with The Press Rooms and three of Wigan’s most popular rock bands.

Fresh from storming the stage at Diamond Fest in June, Prairie Dogs are ready to pummel The Press Rooms into submission with the kind of scathing, hard-hitting rock that has thrilled audiences across the North West and beyond for the last several years.

One of Wigan’s most established and popular rock bands, Prairie Dogs have earned their reputation thanks to solid, blistering anthems combining equal parts aggression and emotion with thunderous rhythms which pound beneath wailing, cataclysmic guitars, all delivered in an exciting, energy-fuelled live show.

Joining the ‘Dogs are one of the more promising and exciting bands to emerge on the local scene over the last two years. The Fifth Root’s potential for stardom is only matched by their own unabashed passion for performing the kind of riotous live shows that have earned them both a loyal following a reputation for being one of the more entertaining live acts around right now.

Headlining the night come veterans of the local scene, This Devasated Fan.

Over the course of three studio albums and more live shows than some bands have had hot dinners, the Wigan-based rockers have continually upped their game; constantly delivering not only ferocious live shows which see powerful guitars swooping and crashing and threatening to rock every venue they play to rubble, but also songs which take arresting, emotionally-charged stories and set them to a scolding soundtrack combining the best bits of grunge and pure, unadulterated hard-rock.

Chris Skoyles said:

“We’re really lucky to have three of the town’s most popular bands on one line-up.Time and time again each band have proved that they’re a force to be reckoned with on the local scene and I can’t wait to see what happens when they’re live and unleashed in the same room!

“The Wigan scene seems stronger than ever right now. The first night I was back from the States there were no less than four gigs going on around town and the level of talent and dedication to the scene, not just from the bands themselves but also many of the promoters who work tirelessly to promote them is impressive.

“Coming back to town with Almost Famous, all I can hope to do is add my experiences and lessons learned working in America to that scene and celebrate Wigan music by  throwing The Hottest Party of the Summer.”

The Hottest Party of the Summer featuring This Devastated Fan, Prairie Dogs and The Fifth Root, plus a live DJ playing rock, metal and alternative, takes place on Friday August 10th at The Press Rooms in Wigan. Entry is £3 on the door. For more information please visit www.almostfamousmusic.co.uk

As The Hottest Party of The Summer draws ever closer, bringing with it three awesome bands plus one scorching hot rock DJ, Almost Famous have got not one, but two great prizes to give away.

First up, we have a copy of Plot and Debauchery, the awesome third album from long-time AF friends This Devastated Fan.

An intense, brooding affair full smouldering rock gems, Plot and Debauchery contains just some of the awesome tracks fans can look forward to when the band hit The Press Rooms in Wigan on August 10th.

Speaking of which. Not only do you have the chance to get a free copy of that album, you could also win free entry for you and a friend, not only to that very gig on August 10th (which also features Prairie Dogs and The Fifth Root), but to every Almost Famous event, gig and party from now until the rest of time, no matter how big or small the occasion.

How?

That’s the easy part.

Just check out this poster for The Hottest Party of the Summer on our Facebook page and tag yourself (and/or your mates) in it.

That’s it. Easy peasy. 

Come Sunday August 5th, we’ll go through all the names tagged in our poster, and pick one of them to win both prizes. 

The Hottest Party of the Summer, with This Devastated Fan, Prairie Dogs and The Fifth Root takes place on August 10th at The Press Rooms, Wigan. For more information please see our Facebook event.

Almost Famous are thrilled to announce that Wigan-based rockers This Devastated Fan are heading to The Press Rooms for the hottest party of the summer.

Heading up our first hometown show since returning from the United States, we’re excited to have a band on the bill who are guaranteed to exhilerate, entertain and excite.

Over the course of three studio albums, including last year’s epic, brooding release, Plot and Debauchery, and more live shows than some bands have had hot dinners, Wigan-based rockers This Devastated Fan have continually upped their game; constantly delivering not only ferocious live shows which see powerful guitars swooping and crashing and threatening to rock every venue they play to rubble, but also songs which take arresting, emotionally-charged stories and set them to a scolding soundtrack combining the best bits of grunge and pure, unadulterated hard-rock.

It’s the band’s unique, gifted approach to songwriting and performing that has attracted TDF a loyal following across the UK and Europe and that they now bring to entertain and excite the Almost Famous crowd.

Joining the band at The Press Rooms on August 10th are another of the town’s most exciting bands; Prairie Dogs. Fresh from the big stage at this year’s Diamond Fest, the ‘Dogs deliver adrenalin-fuelled, hard-hitting rock full of scathing guitars and pulsating rhythms. 

This scorching night of rock ‘n’ roll revelery is rounded off by one of the most hard-working and exciting young bands to hit the scene in some time, The Fifth Root.. With potential is only matched by their own unabashed passion for performing the kind of riotious live shows that have earned them both a loyal following, The Fifth Root are set to bring somethign very special to the hottest party of the summer.

All this, plus a DJ set to keep the party alive with the best in alt/rock/metal for just £3 as Almost Famous heads to The Press Rooms, Wigan on Friday August 10th. 

For more info, please see our Facebook event page